Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

It's true, no more clutch.  It uses a brushroll motor.

I can't say it so much that "We Americans" have problems with the clutch, as the clutch has problems with American carpets.   The carpets are too thick and the machine's clutch would slip and ratchet.  Carmine has told the stories many times of his poor dog running for cover.

My question would be, why does it need a clutch in the first place?  

Well I'm in UK and have had a slight problem with clutch on a DC03 and DC04.  On the DC03, the knob wouldn't stay in the 'OFF' position so when using the knob would flip itself to the 'On' position all by itself.  Dyson replaced this and it appeared to be a problem with a few DC03's at the time having a 'loose' control knob.  The replacment on the DC03 would make the awful ratchet noise sometimes when reclining the machine for use, it would do it and then operate as normal for no apparant reason - Dyson say that the clutch wasn't 'set' properly in the factory was was too sensitive.  They changed it and it was ok.

The DC04 I bought had a noisy clutch that just wasn't neccessary,  I wasn't happy with it.  Dyson changed the clutch and it has been the same clutch now for 7 years without a problem!!   The only thing is that after a while the smooth belts loose tension so it doesn't make a ratchet noise when obstructed,  I have to makie sure I move the cleaner away from the obstruction quickly - this hardly happens.   So 7 years with the same clutch is very good.

I like the clutch system and don't see a problem with it as its not an extra motor to go wrong (not saying that it will though)  I just don't understand why Dyson didn't design it from the start with tooth belts and why they used smooth belts, I will never understand that.

DC18 wrote:  
1)  Interesting. 
2)  Over here some call this the "toe kick".        DIB

Just wrote:

Over the past century, we've gone from wooden floors with area rugs, to wall-to-wall carpeting, to a 50/50 split of wood and laminate...the clutch, by allowing users to shut off the brushroll, allows you to clean both, without requiring 2 separate cleaners.

Here in the USA, we are little backward.  We use a brush roll shut off rather than a $135 clutch.

Carmine D.

Just wrote:
In 1978 electrolux introduced the 1531 beast upright, the machine was given an  unlimited amount of money for R@D the machine had a clutch in it,The machine had a production run for only 2 years.It was deemed a disaster and absolute failure.

Just by thinking that if you throw money and time at  something its going to be innovative and sucessful in the market place is wishfull thinking.

The only thing innovative in vacuum land in something people can use.

regards

MOLE

mole wrote:

Well said, MOLE.  Does a hokey on a stick qualify?  Lot in use and the customers love them and use them daily.

Carmine D.

Hi Carmine, as long as the consumer likes the motorized hoky thats all that matters,orecks are simple ,lite, clean good enough for %99.7 of the  owners,parts and repairs can be found  without making a road trip out of it,  Oreck has so many different price points from factory recons to the ultra, Its really  nice to see that oreck is surviving in this economic climate.

I will venture to say that ORECK has prospered because Dave and his family are real vacuum people,who have a passion for this business,sort of like Kirby,aerus/electrolux.

I would say that the TTI management dont even know how to use a vacuum cleaner,nevermind make one.

regards

MOLE

Hi MOLE:

ORECK is to the TTI Floorcare as old vacuum school is to new vacuum school.

Carmine D.

It not quite goodbye clutch just yet, well for the UK that is!  I called the UK DYson Helpline to get some info on the DC27.  There is no official launch date as yet, I was told later this year may be around June\July.  It 's an adaptation\evolved\updated version of the DC14 from customer feedback they had on the DC14.  Same as the DC14 was to the DC07!  I was told the vacuum still has the clutch (UK) and the filters are to be washed every 3 months like the DC24\DC25.  The only change is that of the U bend that connects the hose on the change over value as some customers found this got blocked with debris.  They have changed this and it is clear so you can see if it is blocked and there is a flap to open to remove the blockage instead of having to remove the U bend (The DC01 had this setup!).

DC18